The Bosnian Community Center for Resource Development (BCCRD Inc.) is a nonprofit agency created in 1998 by a group of former-Yugoslavs and Americans to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to the refugees from the former Yugoslavia who have resettled in the Greater Boston metropolitan area.

Bosnian migration to the US dates from 1992 and was driven primarily by war and ethnic cleansing. There were approximately 12,000 Bosnians in Massachusetts, of which 5,000-6,000 reside in greater Boston. Most are Muslim, while a significant number of families are ethnically mixed (inter-religious).

Most Bosnians in the Greater Boston area live in suburban communities including Chelsea, Everett, Revere, Lynn and Malden; smaller pockets of Bosnians can be found in Brighton, Brookline and Medford. Bosnians traditionally value education very highly and like to be involved in their children's education, but they find it difficult to do so here.

Bosnians in the US are sometimes viewed as "over-achievers" because they are quick to find work and obtain self-sufficiency. After this initial period, however, many become depressed and unable to maintain steady jobs or relationships as a result of the torture and trauma experienced during the war. Adjustment is particularly difficult for the 10% of the population that are highly educated professionals. Bosnians are very independent and may also fear or distrust the government, so many feel uncomfortable seeking help from outside agencies. Cultural and linguistic barriers limit access to mainstream services. Therefore, the need for a Bosnian organization by and for Bosnians is very strong.

The only agency in the region specifically designed to serve this population, BCCRD obtained its 501(c)3 status in March 2004; however, it has been a part of the Massachusetts Assistance Association Coalition since 1998, organized by the Commonwealth’s Office of Refugees and Immigrants (ORI).

As the populations of Lynn area grew more diverse, so did BCCRD. We now offer services to clients from all around the world and speak 20 languages.